Breechless projectile alignment module and launch methods for toy blaster apparatus

Abstract

Launcher apparatus and methods for a toy projectile blaster with a breechless projectile alignment module having a receptacle or hopper for multiple received projectile rounds, a passage at the alignment module including a barrel seal to align received projectiles for launching through a blaster barrel, and a channel into the alignment module for a compressed air source. A pre-firing area defines a junction inside the alignment module extending between the receptacle, the channel, and the barrel seal. An actuator at the housing is linked with the compressed air source for causing compressed air to expel through the channel into the alignment module and outwardly launch the received projectile rounds.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An alignment module for launching projectile rounds, comprising:
 a receptacle opening allowing a plurality of the projectile rounds to be received into the alignment module, with the receptacle opening located along an upper portion of the alignment module wherein the alignment module is capable of receiving rounds through said receptacle opening from a receptacle capable of holding multiple projectile rounds;   at least one barrel seal aligned with a passage at the alignment module;   a channel into the alignment module capable of fluid communication with a compressed air source; and   a pre-firing area defined to include a junction inside the alignment module extending between the receptacle opening, the channel, and the at least one barrel seal thereof, the pre-firing area enabled to align at least one of the received projectiles at the at least one barrel seal.   
     
     
         2 . The alignment module of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the received projectiles align by gravity within the pre-firing area to at the at least one barrel seal. 
     
     
         3 . The alignment module of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle is defined on an upper portion of the alignment module, and the junction comprises a Y junction wherein the receptacle, the channel, and the at least one barrel seal together represent three branches of the Y junction. 
     
     
         4 . The alignment module of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle comprises a hopper, with a cover thereto, which is opened for the projectile rounds received into the pre-firing area, and which is closed for pressurizing the projectile rounds inside the alignment module. 
     
     
         5 . The alignment module of  claim 4 , wherein the cover and the hopper with the pre-firing area are pressurized with the cover closed, wherein the alignment module comprises dampening elements such a bleed hole, dead space or diaphragm for reducing air pressure. 
     
     
         6 . The alignment module of  claim 1 , comprising a projectile rounds launching barrel aligned with the at least one barrel seal form a seal with one or more of the projectile rounds for launching from the pre-firing area outwardly through the launching barrel. 
     
     
         7 . The alignment module of  claim 6 , comprising an actuator linked with the compressed air source for causing compressed air to expel through the channel into the alignment module and outwardly launch the one or more received projectile rounds through the at least one barrel seal and the launching barrel. 
     
     
         8 . The alignment module of  claim 6 , wherein the dampening elements of the alignment module cause one or more projectile rounds to be positioned at the barrel seal after compressed air expels one or more other projectile rounds. 
     
     
         9 . A method for launching projectile rounds, comprising the steps of:
 providing an alignment module and a receptacle opening located along an upper portion of the alignment module;   allowing a plurality of the projectile rounds to be received into the alignment module from the receptacle opening wherein the alignment module is capable of receiving rounds through said receptacle opening from a receptacle capable of holding multiple projectile rounds;   aligning at least one barrel seal with a passage at the alignment module;   extending a channel into the alignment module capable of fluid communication with a compressed air source; and   positioning a pre-firing area defined to include a junction inside the alignment module extending between the receptacle opening, the channel, and the at least one barrel seal thereof, the pre-firing area enabled to align at least one of the received projectiles at the at least one barrel seal.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one of the received projectiles align by gravity within the pre-firing area to at the at least one barrel seal. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the receptacle is defined on an upper portion of the alignment module, and the junction comprises a Y junction wherein the receptacle, the channel, and the at least one barrel seal together represent three branches of the Y junction. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , providing a cover wherein the receptacle is defined as a hopper with the cover being opened for the projectile rounds received into the pre-firing area, with the cover being closed for pressurizing the projectile rounds inside the alignment module. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , dampening pressure within the pre-firing area of the alignment module when pressurized while the cover is closed on the hopper, with dampening elements provided as a bleed hole, dead space or diaphragm for reducing air pressure wherein the dampening elements of the alignment module cause one or more projectile rounds to be positioned at the barrel seal after compressed air expels one or more other projectile rounds. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , providing a projectile rounds launching barrel aligned with the at least one barrel seal form a seal with one or more of the projectile rounds for launching from the pre-firing area outwardly through the launching barrel, and actuating the compressed air source for causing compressed air to expel through the channel into the alignment module and outwardly launch the one or more received projectile rounds through the at least one barrel seal and the launching barrel. 
     
     
         15 . A system for launching projectile rounds, comprising:
 an alignment module and a receptacle opening located along an upper portion of the alignment module for a plurality of the projectile rounds to be received into the alignment module from the receptacle opening;   means for receiving rounds through said receptacle opening from a receptacle capable of holding multiple projectile rounds;   at least one barrel seal aligned with a passage at the alignment module;   means for extending a channel into the alignment module capable of fluid communication with a compressed air source; and   a pre-firing area defined to include a junction inside the alignment module extending between the receptacle opening, the channel, and the at least one barrel seal thereof, the pre-firing area enabled to align at least one of the received projectiles at the at least one barrel seal.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one of the received projectiles align by gravity within the pre-firing area to at the at least one barrel seal. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the receptacle is defined on an upper portion of the alignment module, and the junction comprises a Y junction wherein the receptacle, the channel, and the at least one barrel seal together represent three branches of the Y junction. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , comprising a cover means for the receptacle positioned on a hopper means with the cover means opened for the projectile rounds received into the pre-firing area, with the cover means closed for pressurizing the projectile rounds inside the alignment module. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , comprising pressure dampening means within the pre-firing area of the alignment module when pressurized while the cover means at the hopper is closed, with dampening elements including one or more of a bleed hole, dead space or diaphragm for reducing air pressure wherein the dampening elements of the alignment module cause one or more projectile rounds to be positioned at the barrel seal after compressed air expels one or more other projectile rounds. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , comprising a projectile rounds launching barrel aligned with the at least one barrel seal form a seal with one or more of the projectile rounds for launching from the pre-firing area outwardly through the launching barrel, and comprising actuating means for the compressed air source for causing compressed air to expel through the channel into the alignment module and outwardly launch the one or more received projectile rounds through the at least one barrel seal and the launching barrel.